Every time St. John Berchmans went out to take a walk, he was careful to visit some church, whether it was a time of Exposition in it or not. On such occasions, his recollection was so profound that he did not notice when his companion arose to go out, so that the latter was often obliged to come back from the church-door and arouse him, and even call him aloud by name, so great was his abstraction.

St. Vincent de Paul made visits as often as he was able, and the rest that he took from his grave occupations consisted in staying, sometimes for hours, before the sacred Tabernacle. He remained there with an aspect so humble, that it seemed as if he would willingly have sunk to the centre of the earth, and with an exterior as modest and devout as if he were beholding the person of Jesus Christ with his own eyes, so that he inspired with devotion all who beheld him.

When he had difficult business to transact, he had recourse, like Moses, to the sacred Tabernacle, to consult the oracle of truth. On leaving his house, he went to the chapel to ask a blessing, and on his return, to give thanks for the graces received, and to humble himself for the faults he had perhaps committed. He did this not as a matter of form, but with true religious feeling.

Text from A Year With the Saints (New York: P.J. Kenedy & Sons, 1891).